Page 64 of The Highlander's Dangerous Bride

I have tae get tae her, but how?Arne thought quickly. He looked at the man who had called out to him. “Is that yer boat?” he asked, jutting his jaw at the vessel, which he noticed was calledKelpie Lass.

“Aye,” the man nodded.

“I’ll give ye twenty guineas tae row me out tae that birlinn,” Arne told him, getting ready to jump aboard.

But the captain held up a restraining hand. “Hey, now, hold yer horses, man. I ken who owns that boat, and I’ve nae wish tae quarrel with him. Ye’d have tae have a death wish tae dae somethin’ so foolish as that,” he declared, shaking his head.

Arne halted. “Who owns it?” he asked, horribly afraid he already knew the answer.

“Why, Laird Struan MacDonald of Barra.”

Arne’s guts twisted as though a blade had been plunged into them. “That’s what I thought, and he’s just the fella I wantae see,” Arne told him. “Twenty-five guineas, and ye dinnae have tae lift a finger, just get me tae that boat.”

The captain appeared to consider it. By this time a number of his crew had gathered to witness the bargaining and were taking a great interest in the sums being bandied about. “I’m nae sure,” the captain said, turning to his crew. “What d’ye think lads?”

“Will ye get on with it? The bloody boat’s nearly out of sight!” Arne implored them, fear making him impatient.

“Make it thirty, and we’ll dae it,” said a ruddy-faced sailor, coming up behind the captain, perhaps his first mate.

“Aye, thirty,” the men cried in support.

“Done,” Arne shouted.

“Hold on, how d’we ken ye’re good fer the money? Ye dinnae look rich,” the first mate pointed out skeptically.

Arne pulled off his clan ring and chucked it to the man. He caught it easily. The captain and crew gathered around to examine it, talking in hushed voices. Arne was almost at the end of his patience. TheLady Annewas almost out of view and Raven with it. If she was still alive that was.

“’Tis twenty-four carat solid gold,” Arne told them. “I’m the braither of Haldor MacLeod, the Viking Laird of Harris. Ye can keep that as security. If I dinnae comeback and pay ye, ye can melt it down and sell it fer about the same amount.”

The captain pocketed the ring, turned to Arne with a shifty grin, and doffed his hat. “Captain Ben Bosco of theKelpie Lass, the fastest birlinn in the Hebrides at yer service, Mr. Macleod, Sir. Now, untie that painter and jump aboard.” He pointed at the rope that was holding the craft tied to an iron ring set in the side of the stone quay.

Needing no second bidding, his eyes on the rapidly retreatingLady Anne,Arne slipped the painter from the ring and jumped aboard, landing on two feet with a thud.

Meanwhile, Bosco addressed his crew. “All hands tae the oars, ye slackers, and be quick about, or I’ll have the skin off yer backs!” he roared.

There was a chorus of “Aye, Aye, Captain,” as his men leaped into action, taking their seats on the benches by the rowlocks and seizing their oars before starting to heave on them, sinews cracking like pistol shots.

Not content to just sit around, Arne immediately slipped into a vacant spot among the rowers and was soon blading a pair of oars through the water in perfect time with the rest, straining every muscle, his eyes always on the dot up ahead.

TheKelpie Lassflew across the choppy, greenish waters, swerving expertly between the other vessels, making rapid gains on the largerLady Anne.

However, though he was now in hot pursuit of MacDonald’s vessel, Arne was extremely troubled by the fact that no more screams had come from Raven. Someone had silenced her, and it terrified him. “Can they row any faster?!” he cried to Bosco.

“Make it thirty-five guineas, and we’ll make her bloody fly!” the first mate yelled, striding up and down and urging the rowers on in colorful language.

“Done!” Arnie cried, straining at the oars.

“Let’s just hoist the sail,” Bosco said with a grin. “There’s a nice easterly behind us. We’ll catch her up easy.”

And indeed, they did. Within a surprisingly short time,Kelpie Lasswas within hailing distance of theLady Anne. Arne was surprised to see there were no armed men on board, just what appeared to be the crew, with a dozen of the men rowing like crazy as a lanky, greasy-haired individual he supposed was the captain, screamed at them to go faster.

However, the giant “monk” and his “brother” were already at the stern of the vessel, looking back at them. As Arne watched, they threw their robes open, to reveal swords and dirks in their belts. He looked past them, into the body of the boat, straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of Raven.

His heart sank, for he could see nothing. On the other hand, he was pretty sure from what she had told him about her husband, that MacDonald would want her back alive, so he could make her suffer for running out on him twice. He decided to hold on to that thought.

“Can ye get me closer?” Arne asked Bosco anxiously, nevertheless keen to get some evidence she was aboard.

“As close as ye like,” the captain said and gave the order. He came and stood next to Arne at the stern as the gap closed between the two vessels. “See the big fella there givin’ us the evil eye?” Bosco asked him.

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